The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, invite us to reflect on the role of family in supporting our sense of the sacred, our ability to learn, and our action in support of our family and community.
.jpg)
The reading from the Book of Sirach introduces us to the Wisdom in the Israelite heritage.
* [44:1–15] The reader is here introduced to those people of Israel, later mentioned by name, who through various achievements and beneficial social activities have acquired great renown (vv. 1–8, 14–15); and also to those who, though forgotten, endure through the fruit of their virtues and through their families because of God’s covenant with them (vv. 9–15). (Sirach, CHAPTER 44, n.d.)
Psalm 132 is a song for a liturgical ceremony.
* [Psalm 132] A song for a liturgical ceremony in which the ark, the throne of Israel’s God, was carried in procession to the Temple. The singer asks that David’s care for the proper housing of the ark be regarded with favor (Ps 132:1–5), and tells how it was brought to Jerusalem (Ps 132:6–10). There follows God’s promise of favor to the Davidic dynasty (Ps 132:11–12) and to Zion (Ps 132:13–17). The transfer of the ark to the tent in Jerusalem is described in 2 Sm 6. (Psalms, PSALM 132, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew proclaims the Privilege of Discipleship
* [13:16–17] Unlike the unbelieving crowds, the disciples have seen that which the prophets and the righteous of the Old Testament longed to see without having their longing fulfilled. (Matthew, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)
Cindy Costanzo reflected on how the scripture for today inspired her to recall her most frequent gratitudes over the years and the words grace, relationships, and open heart came to her mind. The scripture today is very much about grace, relationships and having an open, receptive heart.
When I became more open and receptive to the word of God (seed) the relationship I had with God grew. As my relationship with God grew my relationships with my family, friends, neighbors and co-workers became more kind, caring and loving (fruitful life or a good harvest). Over the years as I have cultivated my faith, my relationships have improved, my gratitude for my faith and relationships has grown, and when the trials and challenges of everyday life or a major event appears I am stronger and more prepared to seek God for direction and able to depend on those with whom I have built a relationship.
Today this scripture also reminds me to not compare or judge where others are on their faith journey but to continue to be a disciple of Jesus, to share my love and gratitude for my faith, and to accept myself as an imperfect parent, grandparent, friend, and co-worker and as someone who is open to be remolded and reshaped by her faith in God. (Costanzo, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “The Lord sows good seeds in our heart,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).
"The Lord clearly points out that he is the sower of good seeds. He does not cease to sow in this world as in a field. God's word is like good seed in the hearts of people, so that each of us according to the seeds sown in us by God may bear spiritual and heavenly fruit." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 51.1)
[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy man."] (Schwager, n.d.)
As we seek to learn from the wisdom our anger has to teach us, Brian McLaren offers this prayer of blessing:
May you be blessed to see in your anger, not just a danger, but an opportunity. May you be blessed to see in your anger a window into what you love. May you be blessed to see in your anger a pathway into sadness. And may your sadness sweeten your anger until it is transformed into the energy of love.
May you come to see indifference, complacency, apathy, and self-centeredness within you as signs—not of your lack of anger, but of your lack of love.
May you welcome anger as a source of information about what you love, about what needs protection and repair, and about the courage and strength needed to make this world a more joyful and peaceful place.
May your anger lead you to sadness, and may your sadness lead you to love, so that you meet the tears of things with a heart of bottomless compassion.
May you be angry about what deserves anger, and may you experience such a transformation of your own anger that you become an agent of loving transformation in our world.
May the deep wisdom of God guide you deep into your anger so that you may join with Jesus in weeping for the world, and so that you groan with the creative Spirit in the loving labor pains of a better tomorrow. (McLaren, n.d.)
We offer thanksgiving for our heritage from which we connect to faith, hope, and charity as the guide to a full life
References
Costanzo, C. (2025, July 25). Daily Reflection July 26, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-26-2025
Matthew, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13?
McLaren, B. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/wisdom-in-an-age-of-outrage-weekly-summary/
Psalms, PSALM 132. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/132?11
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Guarding the Good Seed of God's Word in Our Heart. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jul26
Sirach, CHAPTER 44. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/44?1
No comments:
Post a Comment