Friday Mass readings / commentary (God punishes those who trample on the poor [possible prophecy for our times?] / The Word [the Mass?] taken from the

[distracted]

July 2, 2010
Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

*** Friday Mass readings / commentary (God punishes those who trample on the poor [possible prophecy for our times?] / The Word [the Mass?] taken from the earth! / Jesus is criticized for befriending sinners) ***

Reading 1
Am 8:4-6, 9-12

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy
and destroy the poor of the land!
“When will the new moon be over,” you ask,
“that we may sell our grain,
and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?
We will diminish the containers for measuring,
add to the weights,
and fix our scales for cheating!
We will buy the lowly man for silver,
and the poor man for a pair of sandals;
even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!”
On that day, says the Lord GOD,
I will make the sun set at midday
and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight.
I will turn your feasts into mourning
and all your songs into lamentations.
I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth
and make every head bald.
I will make them mourn as for an only son,
and bring their day to a bitter end.
Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD,
when I will send famine upon the land:
Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water,
but for hearing the word of the LORD.
Then shall they wander from sea to sea
and rove from the north to the east
In search of the word of the LORD,
but they shall not find it.

Ps 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131
Responsorial Psalm

R. (Matthew 4:4) One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
My soul is consumed with longing
for your ordinances at all times.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your justice give me life.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
I gasp with open mouth
in my yearning for your commands.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Mt 9:9-13
Gospel

As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
.

---

I heard this saint (I think her name was Katherine??) say something about how in the years to come (she lived in the 18th or 19th century) there would be a time when the sky would be darkened for 3 days & terrible things would happen in order to kill off the ungodly people… and even some of the godly ones if they are not careful… I’l try to find the name of this saint…

so anyway i wonder if Amos is a prophecy of that future time she spoke of?

Jesus says he desires mercy rather than sacrifice.

I know personally how Jesus has mercy on sinners (repentant ones in particular) because when i am in HIs Real Presence… i don’t feel massive guilt or hopelessness abuot my sins as i do when i am in other places…

so we are to all have mercy on sinners… not easy when someone is sinning against you…
but at least we can pray for the person, which is what Jesus says elsewhere… to pray for our enemies… and those who despitefully use us… abuse us…

i used to hate certain evil doers… but when i prayed for them, the hate (more or less ) went away…

I say more/less cuz i am human… and etc… ***

.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Before St. Lawrence was martyred (under Emperor Valerian 254-260), his judge called upon him to bring forth all the treasures of the Catholic Church, which had been committed to his charge as chief deacon under the martyred Pope ST. Sixtus II 3 days prior.** St. Lawrence produced a multitude of poor people whom the Catholic Church had maintained as her prized possession**. St. Lawrence feast day is August 10.

 

[distracted]

Before St. Lawrence was martyred (under Emperor Valerian 254-260), his judge called upon him to bring forth all the treasures of the Catholic Church, which had been committed to his charge as chief deacon under the martyred Pope ST. Sixtus II 3 days prior.** St. Lawrence produced a multitude of poor people whom the Catholic Church had maintained as her prized possession**. St. Lawrence feast day is August 10.

i remember that story…

i guess the emperor thought St L was making fun of him or something?

i can’t recall what year that was. Do you know?

maybe this is one thing that’s wrong in the Church today… I am speaking mostly of the Church in the US… & developed coutnries. There aren’t many (wht you would call) poor in the US anymore, what with welfare and all those gov programs we’re always getting thrown at us…

poor peple have no $$ to rely on… so they dont get caught up in the love of $$ … dependance on it like rich people do Maybe that’s why JEsus said its difficult for a rich person to get into Heaven.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

i can’t recall what year that was. Do you know?

Jesus said “you will always have the poor with you”. If you don’t see the poor lacking in the basic neccessities for living, you can be assured to find them very poor spiritually anywhere and everywhere.

 

[distracted]

Jesus said “you will always have the poor with you”. If you don’t see the poor lacking in the basic neccessities for living, you can be assured to find them very poor spiritually anywhere and everywhere.

yes, those who fight poverty often forget that the greatest poverty of all is… as you say, spiritual poverty… not being catechized… (meaning taught the faith… otherwise known as the Truth)

the truth will set you free… but not if you don’t KNOW it…

the greatest gift you cn give your children is to teach them the Catholic faith… (and LIVE it)

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

yes, those who fight poverty often forget that the greatest poverty of all is… as you say, spiritual poverty… not being catechized… (meaning taught the faith… otherwise known as the Truth)

the truth will set you free… but not if you don’t KNOW it…

Amen, my son asked me one time, “why do you always go to Church?” I told him because I am a sinner.

 

[distracted]

Amen, my son asked me one time, “why do you always go to Church?” I told him because I am a sinner.

its not cuz you’re a sinner…

its cuz you don’t want to be a sinner…

not everyone these days seems to have that goal…