Message of the Day
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Each moment the seed of God's Word is being sown. But we must remember the process-God sows the seed, we do some work, and someone else reaps the benefit. That is the pattern, age-old and repetitive and productive. We ourselves are the product of that ritual. All that we have is the result of reaping the benefits of someone else's hard work, belief and endurance. This attitude is part of the sowing of the seed, the hearing the gospel and the yield.
- Megan McKenna, from Parables
(You are in this flow . . . let yourself be blessed and a blessing!)
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Readings of the Day
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DT 10:12-22; PS 147:12-15, 19-20; MT 17:22-27 R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Gospel
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Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?
Before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70 C.E., every male Jew above 19 years of age was obliged to make an annual contribution for the temple's upkeep. Jesus instructs Peter about freedom from the obligation of payment, but explains to him why they should pay it - to avoid giving offense. Even today, we still have to weigh our specific obligations against our call to do what is just out of love and respect for one another. Even if we're not bound by law to do something, perhaps we should do it anyway to ensure the well-being of others.
For cooperation among people and nations, we pray. - by Patricia Russell
My Daily Bread
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Spiritual Reading
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The Sparkling Stone, by St. John of Rusybroeck (1293-1381)
Nevertheless, you should know that all good and faithful men are the sons of God; for they are all born of the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of God lives in them. And He moves and stirs them each according to his own capacity virtues and good works, wherein they are well pleasing to God. But because of the inequality of their adherence and their exercises, I call some the faithful servants of God and others I call His secret friends, and others again His hidden sons: nevertheless, they are all servants, friends, and sons, for they all serve and love and mean one God, and they live and work only by the free Spirit of God. And God permits and allows that His friends do and leave undone all those things which are not contrary to His commandments; and for those who are bound by the counsels of God, then this bond also is a commandment. And so no one is disobedient or contrary to God save he who does not keep His commandments; but all those things which God commands and forbids in Scripture or by Holy Church, or in our conscience, all these things we must do and leave undone, or else be disobedient to God, and lose His grace. But if we fall into venial sins, this is suffered both by God and by our reason, for we cannot wholly guard against them. And therefore such failings do not make us disobedient, for they do not drive out the grace of God nor our inward peace: nevertheless, we should always lament such lapses, how small soever they may be, and guard against them with all our might.
And by these words I have explained to you what I said at the beginning: namely, that every man must needs be obedient in all things to God and to Holy Church and to his own conscience; for I do not wish that any should be unjustly offended by my words. And herewith I leave it even as I have said it. - Chapter 8: "On the difference between the secret friends and the hidden sons of God."
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