Saint for the day: Blessed Pope Paul VI (September 26, 1897 – August 6, 1978)
Scripture Readings for today’s Liturgy:
Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20 – Psalm 123 – Luke 8:19-21
We hear in today’s first ready from Ezra about the “chosen people of God” rebuilding the temple of the Lord. In the Gospel Jesus says, “my mother & brothers are those who hear the Word of God and keep (or follow) it.” What is the “word of God?” Perhaps the “Shema Israel, “To love the Lord with your whole heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself.” In love God created us & in love gives us freedom to act. He doesn’t say, “I have chosen you & I will beat my word into you…” And thus we are free to hear God’s word and either devour it or spit it out. And when we wander away and chase after words that tickle our fancy, God, like a gentle mother or father takes us back and sooths our ills. How patient is this God of ours. Remember … you are dust and into dust you shall return. But blessed dust. ( I just wanted to get that in as a corollary of Fr. Richard Rohr’s quote: “We’re called to be God’s … but God’s who have to use the restroom –“ if you get my drift)
All this, not withstanding, should give us the certain hope that if we just listen to the briefest Word of God we shall be brought back “into the depths of His tent and set high upon a rock – safe and secure from all harm” (Psalm 27 one of my favorites should be part of our prayer: “One thing I ask of the Lord and this I seek to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life.” This verse was on my 1st Vows Holy Card in 1961. I hope you can take the time to read through the entire psalm. It’s quite beautiful. Amen!