The Catholic Calendar for Monday, June 28, 2004
   Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
   St. Irenaeus, bishop, martyr

Scripture from Monday's Liturgy of the Word:
   Amos 2:6-10, 13-16
   Psalm 50:16-23
   Matthew 8:18-22

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Whenever I hear or read today's Gospel passage I can't help but think how blunt Jesus was at times.

"The foxes have lairs, the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head," and "...let the dead bury their dead" both sound a bit rude, don't they?

But further reflection on the words of the Lord reveal otherwise. Jesus came to bring us the truth. It is a simple fact that following Jesus meant a total sacrifice--telling the disciples this was not rude, just the plain truth. This truth came with much more. It came with love.

Anyone who is a parent can tell you that teaching others the truth is not always easy, pleasant or "nice." Raising a child sometimes calls for parents to be blunt and to the point. It does a child no good to have parents who sugar-coat everything, just as it would have done the disciples no good had Jesus done the same thing.

Sometimes your faith is a bit much? Don't worry, you're not alone. The Lord Himself has said it would be this way. He told us that very plainly. He has also promised His never-ending love which will see us through all difficulties.

- Don Claunch, SFO



posted by joachim at 5:01 AM