The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, June 18, 2005
Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3
Psalm 98:1-6
Matthew 5:33-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The 'Lilies of the Field' sermon is one of the most beautiful. Jesus outdoes any psychiatrist or counselor in the power and serenity of the advice. Of course, there is always the danger, as with any teaching of Jesus, that we’ll keep our response at the level of mere admiration, or be merely soothed by its beauty. Far more is demanded of us. He demands complete trust and obedience, asking of us total surrender to the Divine Plan.

All those chirping birds and lovely lilies are impressive. However, there is a great difference--these creatures have no free will. They have no choice but to give glory to God. Humans, in contrast, are burdened with the great gift of free choice. We can so easily hold back the allegiance we owe, clinging in fear to money, power, and all sorts of earthly securities. We are often spiritual "mugwumps", mouthing praise and promises of fidelity to the Lord, while making sure that we have lots of material backup "in case" abandonment to Divine Providence just does not work out.

Let me ask the Lord today for strength and the grace to give Him my total trust. Only love can help me to really let go.

Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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