"For centuries the church has confronted the
human community with role models of greatness. We call them saints when what we really often mean to say is 'icon,' 'star,' 'hero,' ones so possessed by an internal vision of divine goodness that they give us a glimpse of the face of God in the center of the human. They give us a taste of the possibilities of greatness in ourselves."
Joan D. Chittister, A Passion for Life Who are your models for Christian living? Give thanks to God for the role they've played in your life.
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Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b
Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 Matthew 13:10-17 The disciples went up to Jesus and asked, ‘Why do you talk
to them in parables?’ ‘Because’ he replied, ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled: You will listen and listen again, but not understand,
see and see again, but not perceive.
For the heart of this nation has grown coarse,
their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes,
for fear they should see with
their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and be converted
and be healed by me. ‘But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you
solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’
Reflection on the Scriptures
Matthew 13: 10-17 (More on parables) Although the parables are relatively simple stories, they are nevertheless rich
in symbolism. To appreciate their meaning, we must allow them to confront our lives as a mirror reflects 1ack to us our bodily image. The more time and effort we put into the struggle of meditating on the parables, the greater will be our reward. • “In the spiritual life, if you’re not progressing, you’re regressing.” Do you agree with this? Why? Why not? In what area
of your life have you made progress recently? • Pray for the grace to hunger for growth. -from Praying the Daily Gospels
The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus, by James Arraj
https://innerexplorations.com/catchtheomor/resurrecion.htm Inner Growth Publications, 2007.
Chapter 4: The Resurrection of Jesus Conclusion It is clear that the message of the resurrection in the New Testament is the message of a bodily resurrection, that is, a real material body, yet a
transformed one. While some scholars deny the resurrection altogether, and others attempt to purify it from what they imagine to be a crude physicalism and by way of reaction overspiritualize it, the resurrection is, in fact, about bodies, the body of Jesus in the tomb, and our bodies. The bodily resurrection of Jesus is at the heart of the Christian message. It means God takes us as we actually are with all our wounds and weaknesses, imperfections and sins, and wishes to redeem the whole of us.
The incarnation of Jesus in a fallen world led to his crucifixion, and then to his bodily resurrection. God has no need to save just the spiritual part of his creation. He saves it all except for sin.
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