Images from God: June 2019

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Resolutely executing God’s will (readings for June 30, 2019 annotated) (Lectionary: 99)

Key

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Hyperlinks to additional resources

Commentary

Reading 1 1 Kings 19:16B, 19-21

The LORD said to Elijah: "You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, as prophet to succeed you."

Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you." Elijah answered, "Go back! Have I done anything to you?" Elisha left him, and taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat.
Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

R. (cf. 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you.
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot."
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Reading 2 Galatians 5:1, 13-18

Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you areguided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Alleluia 1 Samuel 3:9; John 6:68

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 9:51-62

When the days for Jesus' being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him.On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."

Jesus actions/statements in these two paragraphs, and the attitude that underlay them, are well described in Philippians 2:6-8.

And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." To him Jesus said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."

What these scriptures tell us about God

You are my inheritance, O Lord.
in you I take refuge

For more scriptures describing this dynamic see the scriptures collected at Wisdom Principles—God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him

you it is who hold fast my lot
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
the LORD who counsels me

with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld

nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life

fullness of joys in your presence

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

you have the words of everlasting life

When the days for Jesus' being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem

Jesus’ actions here exemplify the virtue of fortitude. For more scriptures discussing that virtue see Wisdom Principles--Fortitude

Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head

What these scriptures tell us to do

left and followed

in you I take refuge

set the LORD ever before me

stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery
serve one another through love

love your neighbor as yourself

live by the Spirit

guided by the Spirit

your servant is listening

resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem

follow you wherever you go

Follow me

go and proclaim the kingdom of God

What these scriptures tell us not to do

use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh

go on biting and devouring one another

not gratify the desire of the flesh

No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God

Saturday, June 29, 2019

God is faithful in ALL circumstances, call & cleave to Him (Readings for June 9, 2019 annotated)(Lectionary 591)

Key

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

Hyperlinks to additional resources

Commentary

Reading 1 Acts 12:1-11

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
"Get up quickly."
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals."
He did so.
Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me."
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
"Now I know for certain
that the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting."

Responsorial Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (5) The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name.I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

Reading 2 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safeto his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia Matthew 16:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

What these scriptures tell us about God

Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell.
the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me

The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.

The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.Taste and see how good the LORD is

blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

the Lord, the just judge,
The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe

the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

What these scriptures tell us to do

prayer by the Church was fervently being madeto God on his behalf.

bless the LORD at all times

his praise shall be ever in my mouth
Glorify the LORD

together extol his name
I sought the LORD
Look to him

called out

Taste and see

takes refuge in him.

competed well

finished the race
kept the faith

Commentary

The key idea behind these readings seem to be reflected in this song.

Friday, June 28, 2019

God is a loving shepherd; we should trustingly follow Him (readings for June 28, 2019 annotated)

Key:

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

Hyperlinks to other resources

Commentary

Reading 1 Ezekiel 34:11-16

Thus says the Lord GOD:

I myself will look after and tend my sheep.

As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep.

I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark.

I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the foreign lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel in the land's ravines and all its inhabited places.

In good pastures will I pasture them, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing ground.

There they shall lie down on good grazing ground, and in rich pastures shall they be pastured on the mountains of Israel.

I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD.

The lost I will seek out,the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6

R.(1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading 2 Romans 5:5-11

Brothers and sisters:
The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly.

Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Alleluia Matthew 11:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or John 10:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord, I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 15:3-7

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes:
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'
I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

What these scriptures tell us about God

I myself will look after and tend my sheep.

he finds himself among his scattered sheep

I tend my sheep.

I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark.

I will lead them out

gather them

I will bring them back

pasture them

In good pastures will I pasture them

they shall lie down on good grazing ground

in rich pastures shall they be pastured

I myself will pasture my sheep

I myself will give them rest,

The lost I will seek out

he strayed I will bring back

the injured I will bind up

the sick I will heal

In verdant pastures he gives me repose

beside restful waters he leads me
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths

you are at my side
your rod and your staff that give me courage
You spread the table before me

The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us

Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly

God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

I am meek and humble of heart.

I am the good shepherd

I know my sheep

go after the lost one until he finds it

And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'
joy in heaven over one sinner who repents

What these scriptures tell us to do

The Lord is my shepherd

The LORD is my shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil
The Lord is my shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd

dwell in the house of the LORD

The Lord is my shepherd

Take my yoke upon you

learn from me

know me.

Commentary

Today’s readings call to mind paragraph 1 of Catechism of the Catholic Church:

God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Saviour. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Gardening Themed Scripture Meditations—topically organized series and stand-alone meditations

Over the years we have posted a number of gardening themed meditations on scripture and spiritual matters. Some are topically organized series, while other are stand-alone meditations. They are collected here for your use, with very short summaries of what they address. May God bless you through them

I. Series

John 15 Series:

John 15:1--Growing God's Joy

John 15:1--On the other hand...

God’s joy as we grow in Him

The disappointment we cause by failing to be fruitful & God’s gracious response

John 15:1--Don't fire the Gardener

Trusting God through tough things

John 15:2--unfruitful branches, part 1

John 15:2--unfruitful branches, part 2

Pruning is motivated by God’s love

Pruning happens when we fail to heed God’s directions

John 15:2--Pruning Part 1--What is Pruning?

The agricultural bases of pruning

John 15:2--Pruning Part 2--We All Need Pruned

John 15:2--Pruning Part 3--Removing Obstacles to God's Light

We all need pruned at some point/in some way

Getting into & reflecting God’s light

John 15:2--Part 4--Pruning Through Adversity

John 15:2--Part 5--How to Respond to Pruning Through Adversity

God lets us go through tough stuff to remove obstacles to fruitfulness

Looking forward to fruitfulness, looking for the lesson(s), dealing with emotional reactions, remembering God’s loving nature & purposes

John 15:2--Pruning through Counsel

The necessity of good counsel

John 15:3--More about Pruning

Pruning through the Word, pruning does not result in perfection

Composting themed

Series one

What we can learn about the Christian Life from Composting--Part 1--The end product is greater than the sum of its parts

We produce more good in community than we do separately

What we can learn about the Christian life from composting--Part 2--Good things come from humble ingredients

God draws the most from the least

What we can learn about the Christian Life from composting--Part 3--the ingredients must be transformed by something beyond themselves

We need God’s inputs to achieve all the good he created us for

What we can learn about the Christian life from composting--Part 4--We have to go through tough stuff, but God gets us through

We have to go through tough stuff to reach our full potential, but God gives us ways to get through it (prayer, perspective, and serving others)

Series two:

Another insight from composting--Utility

We are saved and sanctified in order to serve

Another insight from composting--Transformation

We have to let God transform us to do all the good he created us for

Another insight from composting--Beyond the dramatic

Living out our faith/purpose in the mundane

Another insight from composting--Multiple fruits

God will produce multiple kinds of good from individual acts of service, so get busy, ask the Spirit for His help, and make yourself available to His insights

Another insight from composting--Credit where credit is due

How to respond to God’s blessings

Isaiah 5:1-2 Series:

Introduction

God calls us to Him

God’s invitations to intimacy

Fruitfulness sometimes requires hardship

We must sometimes go through tough stuff to reach the fruitfulness God created us for

Healthy responses to "compaction."

Loosening up so God’s seeds can grow to full fruitfulness

Getting rid of "stones"

Dealing with imbedded obstacles to fruitfulness