14th Sunday of the Year (a)
This Week’s Liturgy Calendar.
Ordinary Season of the Year. (a)
Weekdays – Year 2
Sunday 6th July: Fourteenth Sunday of the Year. (a)
In the first reading, from the Prophet Zecheriah, the messianic king, so long awaited, is depicted not as a proud warrior but as a humble and gentle champion of peace for all peoples.
St. Paul contrasts two ways of life – one in the spirit, one in the flesh.
In the Gospel, Jesus reveals the Father to those who are little and offers to lighten the burden of those who admit their need.
Monday 7th July: Monday of the fourteenth week of the year.
The readings this week come from the Prophet Hosea. He lived at the same time as Amos, some years before the destruction of the northern kingdom. The people had turned to idolatry. He uses the experience of his own difficult marriage to mirror the relationship between God and the people. The day will come when Israel will return to the Lord, back to integrity, justice, love and tenderness.
We have more examples of the healing power of Jesus in the Gospel passage, a healing power which exercised with compassion and forgiveness.
Tuesday 8th July: Tuesday of the fourteenth week of the year.
The first reading this is from the Prophet Hosea who lived around the same time as Amos. He denounces in no uncertain terms the idolatry of the people of Israel who were coming under the influence of the neighbouring pagan gods and their prophets and practices. The have ignored God. They have blasphemed. This will be remembered by God and they will be punished for their infidelity.
Jesus continues to carry out his work of healing and casting out devils. The authorities remain doubtful still in spite of what they see and hear. Jesus bemoans the lack of leadership for the people.
Wednesday 9th July: Feast of Our Lady of Aberdeen.
Standing high on a pedestal in a side chapel of a Brussels church is one of Scotland’s treasures, a statue of Our Lady and Child that was saved from destruction in Aberdeen during the Reformation. For sixty-five years, it was hidden until it was shipped to safety in the Low Countries. Despite her intention to keep the statue in the Royal Palace, the lnfanta of Spain, the Archduchess Isabella, was persuaded to place it in the newly built Augustinian church in Brussels. The statue remained in this church until 1796, when it was again removed for protection into private hands, this time to escape the ravages of the French Revolution. An Englishman, John Morris, safely restored it to the Augustinians in 1805 and it remained in their care as an object of devotion until 1814 when it was removed to the neighbouring Church of Our Lady of Finisterre. It is still venerated there as Our Lady of Good Success .Since the Restoration of the Scottish Hierarchy in 1878, devotion to Our Blessed Lady in Aberdeen, throughout the diocese, and further afield, has focused on copies of this ancient statue including the statue which stands in the Chapel of Our Lady at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Aberdeen.
Thursday 10th July: Thursday of the fourteenth week of the year.
Today we hear how God treats his people as a mother treats her child even when it has turned away. He will never forget his people.
Jesus gives his instructions to the apostles. Above all, they must bring peace and reconciliation to the homes, towns and people they visit in Jesus’ name.
Friday 11th July: Feast of St. Benedict.
St. Benedict was born at Norcia in Italy about 480.He was sent to Rome to study but was appalled by the low moral standards he found. He moved to Subiaco in the mountains. After about three years, some friends gathered there with him and he set up a number of monasteries, the last of which is Monte Cassino which has survived to the present day and is the mother house of the Benedictine Order. He died in 548 and was declared one of the Patrons of Europe in 1965 by Pope Paul VI.
Saturday 12th July: Saturday of the fourteenth week of the year.
We move now to Isaiah, one of the major prophets of the Old testament. This book is the second longest in the Old Testament. Today we have an account of the call of Isaiah. He is reluctant at first to accept the call and is terrified abaout the consequences. Eventually he is persuaded by God to accept the call to be a prophet.
Jesus gives more instructions to his apostles. They have to become more like their teacher.
Our Lady of Lourdes
Pray for us.
St. Bernadette
Pray for us.
