The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
http://new.usccb.org/bible/readings/071712.cfm
Isaiah 7:1-9
Psalm 48:2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6, 7-8
Matthew 11:20-24
A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:
Have you ever tried to communicate with someone who continues reading the newspaper?
Most of us have also had the experience of talking with someone, and we can tell from their eyes that their minds are far away on another topic. There is also the example of a person blocking information because they are convinced that they cannot or do not want to change, such as learning how to use a newer model cell phone, computer or even a new steam iron!
Change is hard sometimes and we are tempted to continue on with our usual behavior. True learning results in changed behavior. In the gospel of today, Christ shares that He had the experience of being unable to change the behavior of the people in some of the villages where He had been because they were closed to Him. How frustrating this must have been for Christ, as shown in today's Gospel!
Christ is not asking us today to run around in sackcloth and ashes. What He really wants is for us to turn to Him with our true attention, love, and fidelity. Christ loves each of us as individuals and He knows what He can do for us and for others through us, if we just give Him our love and attention. Are we blocking that possibility through some behavior of our own?
- Joan of Jesus, OCDS | jmurphy(at)syracuse.net