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Teaching unsupported by grace may enter our ears, but it never reaches the heart. When God’s grace does touch our innermost minds to bring understanding, then his word, which is received by the ear, can sink deep into the heart.
- St. Isidore of Seville -
(Open our ears, Lord . . . and our minds and our hearts.) |
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GN 44:18-21, 23B-29; 45:1-5; PS 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21
MT 10:7-15
Jesus said to his Apostles:
"As you go, make this proclamation:
'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, drive out
demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,
or sandals, or walking stick.
The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,
and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever
will not receive you or listen to your words—
go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment
than for that town."
USCCB Lectionary
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Matthew 10:7-15 (The command to travel light)
Jesus sends his disciples out into the towns and countryside with a simple message and a powerful ministry. They are to prepare the people for his own visitation. The disciples are told that though this task is worthy of room
and board, some will reject them. Thus it is for all who try to be ministers of the gospel.
* Do you do your share to help support people committed to full-time ministry in the Church? What can you contribute of your time, talent, and money?
* Spend some time with the passage “The gifts you have received return as
gifts.Ó What are some of your gifts? How do you share these with others? What happens to you when you cling to your giftedness?”
Paperback, Kindle
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God and I: Exploring the Connections between God, Self and Ego, by Philip St. Romain, 2016 (2nd ed.) ____________ Chapter 4: The False Self System Sensing the disharmony within (“I’m not OK”), the intellect scans the environment and culture for clues to “become OK,” and there are many kinds of invitations held out. These conditions are perceived to exist in externals—in the opinions of others, in accomplishments, in money and other possessions, physical attractiveness, and so forth. The center of attention of the Ego, then, is drawn to the outside world as the source of
approval, which is thought to be the cure to one’s malady. The intellect also continues its scanning and evaluating, preoccupied and judgmental. Accepting the conclusion that “I’m not OK,” which is the harsh judgment of shaming, the intellect attempts to resolve this pain by pursuing a program of “I’ll be OK when . . .,” as noted above. Whatever one decides is necessary--physical appearance, for example--then becomes a source of judgmental comparisons. Am I more attractive than this person, or
less? The longer the list of “I’ll be OK when” factors, the more the opportunities for judgmentalism.
Hardback, paperback, eBook and free preview versions.
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